A jawan and a Maoist were killed as security forces engaged in a prolonged gunbattle with the Maoists in Jungle Mahal on Sunday. The incident took place near Ghretokham village in Kolaboni forest near Jhargram town,when security forces engaged a Maoists squad there. Muhammed Atarul Islam,a jawan of the 4th battalion of Specially Trained Armed Company (STRACO) force was killed. A resident of Shyampur Chowki village in Manikchowk area in Malda district,Atarul was posted in Jhargram. Two more jawans were also injured. The slain Maoists cadre is yet to be identified.

Jhargram SP Pravin Tripathy who led the operation said We had received information that a Maoist armed squad had taken shelter there. Likewise our force raided the area at around 3 am and we were fired upon. We retaliated and the exchange continued. One of our jawans was shot and later succumbed to his injuries. We have received the body of one of the Maoists and we are of the opinion that another two to three may have been killed.

Meanwhile following the incident,raids are being conducted at different areas of Jhargram and Lalgarh to nab the fleeing squad members.